Support Us

Our Mission Statement

The Central Minnesota Music School is a not-for-profit, 501 (c) (3) community school of the arts that enriches the region’s cultural environment by providing exceptional performing arts education and performance opportunities for students of all ages and abilities.

Philosophy

Since our beginning in 1981, the Central Minnesota Music School has had a twofold philosophy: “WE DEVELOP TALENT and MUSIC IS FOR EVERYONE” It has been infectious, and successful.

At CMMS, we believe that having something to teach, and being able to motivate students are like two necessary oars in a rowboat. Without both oars, the boat will go in circles! Our teachers are highly trained, professionals who love what they do - and that's infectious. Our programs also promote a group dynamic wherever possible - and for pre-college aged students, that's motivating. Even the bustling sound experienced when entering the music school is part of this philosophy, inspiring students and honoring their musical lives with a beautiful facility in which to make it. Along with the cutting edge pedagogy we have become known for - at affordable tuition rates - WE are here to DEVELOP TALENT. Developing talent, which is the “ability” to make music and dance is our goal and our enduring success, because we believe everyone has it ...

Making music is quintessentially human. The ingredients of music are at the core of all of our beings. Our hearts beat in systolic and diastolic rhythm and at different tempos throughout our day; Our voices make sound, fluctuate in various pitches (melody), change volume (dynamics), articulation, and produce harmony when we sing together; and even our bodies, which have form and movement are all part of each and every one of us. We ARE music! Our dance IS music!... And so MUSIC IS FOR EVERYONE - It's been our success.

We would love to share our music and dance with you!

Resources

The Gravi DVD

Price: $39.95

Most recently a highlight of the 2007 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy in Chicago, Dr. Paul Wirth's presentation on piano technique is now spreading across the country as piano teachers finally have an effective method of making piano playing easy and understandable for their students.

With 26 years of experience teaching young artists at the pre-college level, Dr. Paul Wirth first explains, and then demonstrates the teaching of his successful "Gravity Based Piano Technique."

Clearly, and in great detail, his step-by-step method of teaching students the art of piano technique is revealed in this 90 minute DVD. Joined by 8-year old student Serena Lu, the joy of teaching is evident throughout the teaching demonstration, as advanced concepts - "the most technically freeing skills any pianist can learn" - are applied to the pre-college age group. This is a "must view" for any teacher of advancing young piano students!

"After seeing your last presentation, the technical ideas, and the ways you motivate your students re-energized my teaching. My students are playing more freely and with better dynamic control, and it has been exciting for us all! Thank you so much for your insight and willingness to share it with others...."

--Nancy Bachus, Pianist, Teacher, Editor and author of the Alfred "Spirit" Series

"Paul Wirth’s exceptional results with his students are well documented by their outstanding achievements in competitions, auditions, solo recitals, and orchestral appearances. At the 2007 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, Dr. Wirth’s two presentations of gravity-based technique brought enthusiastic response from the audience. This GRAVI-DVD was made primarily in preparation for those presentations. Dr. Wirth’s logical approach and his well-articulated explanations render these concepts easily understandable and most helpful to all piano teachers. The examples of student performances are highly impressive."

--Marvin Blickenstaff
President of the Board
The Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy

"I just can't be complimentary enough about it. It's lucid as can be, it's convincing, it's beautifully constructed, there isn't one wasted word, and the demonstrations all along the way are just excellent .... Paul Wirth is masterful, and the perfect person to be putting this pedagogy down into a concrete form. I also think that someone can actually learn to do this method by watching the DVD. I never thought that it would be possible without a lot of close, careful, personal training - but the Gravi-DVD is so clear and logical and appealing, that I've changed my mind."

--Hans Boepple
Pianist/Teacher of Young Artists
Santa Clara University, CA

Scales & Fingerings by: Dr. Paul Wirth

By: Dr. Paul Wirth

By: Dr. Paul Wirth

Important Links

Many of you have asked for listings that you may go to online for various piano or music needs. We hope our IMPORTANT LINKS page will assist. Check back often as we will change items or add new ones as the year goes by.